Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-03-11
NATIONAL SEED SHOP.
Tho Argument of An a agricultural Paper
Against Seed Distributor.
Am erlcan Rural Home.

Against Seed Distributiod.
American Rural Home
At the recent meeting of the Western
New York Horticultural Society strong
resolutions were introduced by Mr.. j. S.
Woodward, who has been elected secre-
tsrY of the New York State Agricultural
Society, condemning The methods of dis
tributing seeds by the Department OF Ag-
riculture at Washington. The resolutio
reads as follows:
"Resolved, that we regard the annual
distribution of seeds and plants By the
Department OF Agriculture at Washing
ton as q great waste Of the peoples
money, an insult to the people 10 whom
sent, e disgrace TO the nation, I'D we de.
maud that ii be abolished, or at least no
longer be done in the name OF sgri-
culture"
This is q pretty strong Indictment of
the practice Whether the authOr of the
resolutions would condemn the principle
of distributing seeds By The general gov
eminent, or simply the methods en-
ployed, we cannot say, but we would OPP
pose both the principle and the way in
which the law Is carried out. We believe
that it is the exercise of powers not con-
ferre5 upon the government by the peo-
pie and that the way in which the law is
tx CCted renders it a detriment rather
= IN a benefit to those who are the reCip-
tents of seeds.
a great many people are urging cur
government to do what it has no right TO
do; to engage in business for the benefit
OF the people: 10 assume and exercise the
functions OF paternal government. Such
people in our opinion, forget the true
theory Of Democratic government. Au-
tOCratic governments claim to exist by
Divine right and authority con-
ferr4d by the Supreme RIler uoon
some ancestor, and descending by III
heritance TO Certain members of the rUyal
family. Hence, for the people to elect Il
ruler would be in opposition to the Dl-
vine will and law, would be wicked and
sacriligiOus. The ruler thus endowed
VITA sovereignty may enact such laws as
he thinks best. He Is the secular father
OF the people, and, while he has a righ
to their time and service, and Lven their
lives, if necessary, he may also engage in
enterprises to benefit his subjects.
In democracy, or repuJnc, such as
ours, We hold that sovereignty is Confer
req by the Creator directly upon the indi-
vidual. That the Individual has the right
to lite, liberty, property, and the right to
use his powers and possessions in the
way he thinks will best promote
his happiness, providing that in
doing SO he does not infringe upon
the equal rights of Others. In forming q
republican government these equal sever
eign5 organize aud choose, presumably,
some of the wise>t aud best among them
t. enact laws to protect the people in the
enjoyment of their natural rights against
anyone, within or without the republic,
who might be disposed to violate taem
These sOyereigns also choose men to exc
cute or enforce the laws enacted for their
protection.
To compensate the enaCtors and ex-
ecutors of the laws tor their protection,
the people consent to relinquish the SOW
ereign COntECl of so much of their prop
erty as msy be necessary to that end,
and contribute of their means in proper
ton to the protection enjoyed. If the
representatives of the people exact, in
the form of taxes, more of the earnings of
the people than is necessary for the
economical administration Of a just and
wise government, they usurp powers not
belonging to them, become unjust and
tyrannIcsl.
50 long as government limits its func-
tions to the simple matter CT protection |
against the law.ess and disorderly, in So
ciety, or against invasion from without, it !
IS much more likely to meet out equal and /
exact justice to all than if it should ex-
coed It's Just powers Of protecting ana at |
TEMPT to promote aud foster tae interests /
Of portion Of the people at the expense |
of all. When government attempts 10 !
transact the business of the people, it Is !
very apt to take the earnings of portion |
Of the people for the benefit of another |
portion, il violation of the sacred rights |
Of property, and ct the same time it be- |
comes competitor with The people in |
thst very business.
Let Us take Cor illustration, one of tie |
least Objectionable and most benenCent |
Of all the kinds Of business in which our |
government is engaged, that CT the trans |
mission OF letters, papers, etc. la that |
business she takes Of people in the more !
thiCklY settled portions more than double |
the cost Of carrying their mails, that mails !
may be carried TO the more sparsely !
settled portions where the cost Of !
transmission several times exceeds the !
amounts received. There is little doubt
hat l cent an ounce would be ample
for carrying letters in the
more densely populated portions Of our
country. If SO, whatever more is OK
acted is Injustice, is robbery. We do not
'Gy that we would abolish the PUstCfiCe
Department of government, we simply re-
er to it to show how one Of the most
'eEehcent, paternal operations Of the
general government works injustice to
he individual.
Let Us take the practice denounced il
he resolution passed by the Horticultural
ociety. The government takes the
money Of the people to buy seeds for
'Or.iOn of the people. We have iadiyid-
als, il every part of the country, en-
aged in the very laudab,e business Of
aising, buying and importing seeds, put
.Gg taem up in packages, large and
mall, and selling them to farmers and
ardeners. Seeds OF grain, seeds of veg
tables, seeds of fruits and seeds Of
overs are distributed wherever wanted
y these enterprising seedmen. So far
5 government enters into the business
distributing seeds she becomes q CON-
etitor with private enterprise, and does
liustice to those citizens who have en-
4rked their money, time ard energies in
le business.
We suppose the original intention Of
lie law providing for seed distribution
as to introduce from foreign countries
ire seeds and plants, aud place them in
le hands Of those farmers or gardeners
differeat localities who would
irly test them, ard report re-
Its to the department at Washing
N. If such were the fact, the design
L L. 49, IL |